Rocky Fire Monday Update: Doubles In Size Over Weekend

Firefighters spray a hose at a fire along Morgan Valley Road near Lower Lake, Calif., Friday, July 31, 2015. A series of wildfires were intensified by dry vegetation, triple-digit temperatures and gusting winds.

7:20 p.m. - Update from Cal Fire - The Rocky Fire is now 62,000 acres and 12 percent contained. There are 3,145 firefighters "working aggressively to build control lines and sustain perimeter control." Cal Fire says in total, "all evacuations impact over 13,118 citizens living in over 5,530 residences."

Daniel Berlant with Cal Fire says as of Monday, August 3, there are 21 active fires across California, with "well over 9,000 firefighters battling them."

5:00 p.m. - Update from Cal Fire's Daniel Berlant - The Rocky Fire has grown so much that it's now starting to create its own weather patterns, moving in different directions despite how the wind is blowing, according to Cal Fire's Daniel Berlant.

Listen to Belant interviewed during All Things Considered:

Rocky Fire Status Update

7 a.m. - The Rocky Fire east of Lower Lake grew to 60,000 acres over the weekend, which is about 84 square miles. Nearly 3,000 firefighters have worked to get 12 percent containment. Law enforcement is executing a mandatory evacuation order for several endangered parts of Colusa, Lake and Yolo Counties.

Battalion Chief Rick Frawley is with Cal Fire. He says, "We have approximately 12,000 residents evacuated from 5,200 occupancies within the area."

Firefighters are aggressively working to stop the progression of the Rocky Fire, but terrain is steep and rugged, posing a challenge for fire crews. The fire threatens more than 6,300 structures, with 24 homes and 26 outbuildings already destroyed.

Cal Fire hopes that cooler temperature and more humidity this week will help the additional crews get the Rocky Fire under control. Mandatory evacuations in the Spring Valley and Wilbur Springs area, and advisories to neighborhoods in the eastern half of Clear Lake.